John george dixon



J. G. DIXON.

(NoModeL) SWITCH.

Patented Oct. 16,1894.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN GEORGEDIXON, or BIRKBY, NGLAND.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,482, dated October 16, 1894. Application filed March 2, 1894. Serial No, 502,116. (No model.) Patented in England July 13, 1893, No. 13,646.

This invention relates to improvements for controlling catch points or switches.

This invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be better understood and more readily carried into effeet I Will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed, inwhich similar letters refer to similar parts in both figures.

Figure 1 illustrates a cross-section of the permanent way and a part section of one form of my apparatus for preventing the too rapid i return of the switches to their normal posiy the piston rod.

. ing end (2 slide e. f is the piston; g, the cylinder; 9', i the side tube; 9 the spring valve of which tion. Fig. 2 illustrates acrosssection of part of the permanent way and an alternative form ofapparatus to that shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 in connection with switch points, a is the sleeper; b, the

g is the spring. h is a hole or aperture on the upper side of the cylinder on which is a ball valve h. l

A train or vehicle approaching in the trail- 1 ing direction of the switch moves the points and raises the balance Weight 01 and piston f. The piston is allowed to move rapidly upward by the air being sucked from the side tube 9 and the valve 9 being drawn downward, the air is i'orced out of the upper side of the cylinder through the aperture h and as long as the wheel is traveling between the switch and the stock rail the switch cannot return to the normal position. The return motion of the switch is retarded in consequence of the air having to escape by leakage from the under side of the piston to the upper side of the cylinder the ball valve 72. closing the aperture on the top and the spring closing the valve 9 In the normal condition the adjusting nut e is on the top of the valve g keeping the said valve open during the upward movement of the piston but when the termination e of the tappet (refer to Fig. 1) comes in contact with the upper nut e during the remaining upward motion the slide a is moved upward and away from the valve g Consequently on the return motion the valve 9 is closed by means of its spring 9 until the lower adjusting nut 6 comes in contact with the top of the valve g which instantaneously admits air and allows the final movement in the return of the switch to its normal position to be completed rapidly. The balance weight d acts to return the switch and force the piston down.

In Fig. 2 is shown an alternative form of dash-pot, the upper cover over the cylinder.

acting as a balance weight in lieu of weight (1 In this figure f is a valve in the lower side of the piston which allows the piston to be moved rapidly upward. The valve is closed on the downward motion and the return of the switch to the normal position cannot take place until the air has leaked from the lower to the upper side of the piston.

What I claim is-- l l. The combination, with the switch rails, and the rod 0 secured to them; of the pivoted bell-crank lever, a stationary air cylinder, a piston sliding therein, a rod connecting the said piston and bell-crank lever, a weight normally holding the piston depressed, and a valve permitting the air to enter the lower part of the cylinder when the piston is raised and obliging it to descend slowly, substantially as set forth.

bell-crank lever, the stationary air cylinder provided With the side tube 9, the piston, being arranged over the said valve g and therodeconnectingthe piston and bell-crank adapted to operate it, substantially as set lever, the tappet 6 attached to the rod 6, the forth.

valve at the top of the cylinder, the spring- JOHN GEORGE DIXON. 5 pressed valve g at the top of the tube 9, and Witnesses:

the slide a provided with nuts on its ends WM. RAMSDEN, 1

above and below the said tappet, said slide HAROLD H. RAMSDEN. 

